It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas! Celebrating the Holiday Tradition of Giving Back at the Shafer’s Fairytale Christmas Home By Writer and Contributor NJ Jaeger
All photos credited to Simie Seaman
The Shafer’s keep a busy charitable schedule, hosting twelve to fourteen events to help nonprofit organizations raise funds, and this year their home will again glow with moments of merriment as guests celebrate a magical Christmas served up with a large helping of legendary Shafer hospitality.
The Shafer’s home, lovingly decorated for the holidays, is a twinkling journey of dazzling touches that feature a Christmas tree shining with gold, imported handmade ornaments, glittering reindeer, Father Christmas, hand painted tablescapes, bouquets of colorful blooms and a festive spread of Christmas cakes, puddings and pies. Carol Elizabeth was born into the world as a light snow fell on Christmas Eve, and she is a beautiful example of the most famous Ebeneezer Scrooge quote of all, ‘I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.’
The Shafer’s romantic partnership and spirit of service began in high school, an enduring foundation that has been the springboard for their personal happiness and professional success. Early in their marriage, the couple was part of a humanitarian group of doctors and dentists known as the Flying Samaritans who traveled to a small village in Mexico to perform free operations and dentistry about three times a year. Carol Elizabeth says, “It was heartwarming to see people lined up as we were approaching our makeshift landing strip. I took a crash course in Spanish and pharmacy drugs and was the resident pharmacist each time we went.”
Carol Elizabeth’s grandmother sang with Enrico Caruso, so it is no surprise that as a tween she often sang along to the popular tunes of the day. One day she answered the doorbell and was greeted by the maid next door who extended an invitation to tea from her elderly employer. During the visit Carol Elizabeth received encouragement from her neighbor about her voice, she said “Don’t ever quit singing!” Years later she realized that that woman was none other than Mrs. Schirmer, the wife of Gustav Shirmer Jr. of Schirmer Music Publishing, the most influential publishing house of the era.
Carol followed Mrs. Shirmer’s advice and years later received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California Institute Of The Arts - School of Music, where she studied opera. After graduation, she pursued a career as a concert soloist and musical theater performer while putting her husband through dental school. Carol Elizabeth soon moved into the business world where she won awards and broke company sales records at three different corporations, earning her trips abroad and company cars, which included a pink Cadillac.
Carol Elizabeth is a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and the former owner of Carol Shafer Fine Jewelry. Carol’s love affair with jewelry began at the tender age of five with the gift from her father of a gold bracelet slipped onto her wrist minutes before his meeting with the President of the United States. Carol Elizabeth’s charismatic father was the Vice President of Standard Oil/New Jersey, and their home welcomed notables of the day including fellow cigar smoking enthusiast Winston Churchill.
John Shafer has always known how to work hard. As a student John worked in a gas station forty hours a week and still managed to earn his Eagle Scout badge. Two years after graduating high school John received his draft notice for the Vietnam War and says, “I must have had a guardian angel looking over me because after bootcamp I was sent to an army dental clinic at Fort Hood Texas and after my army duty was over, I finished my undergrad and then graduated from UCLA Dental School.”
John built a thriving dental practice in Hermosa Beach with a wonderful, dedicated staff. His reputation was such that patients would travel from all over the world to be treated by him. During thirty-five years in practice John travelled by plane, boat, car and on foot to the poorest parts of the world to donate his time to those less fortunate. From India to Africa, the Philippines to Honduras, Mexico and beyond performing children’s dental surgeries twelve to eighteen hours a day.
The Shafer’s continuing commitment to community service has enriched the South Bay in multiple ways. John performed dentistry for the underprivileged throughout the region and at the L.A. Convention Center. Carol Elizabeth has volunteered with many charitable groups, including the Hospice Foundation, Salvation Army, 1736 Family Crises Center, Kiwanis Club, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, South Bay Senior Services, and The Flying Samaritans. She is a nine-year member of the L.A.5 Rotary Club, appointed to their Board of Directors for 2009-2011. She is a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, the Neptunian Woman’s Club, Town & Gown of USC, and serves on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. She is a 29-year member of The Sandpipers and was named the 2005-2006 Sandpiper of the Year.
Over the last few years, the Shafer family welcomed a granddaughter and grandson, their daughter Heather and her husband, both USC Trojans, practice law in Irvine.
NJ is a storyteller who has written in many voices for clients in health, education, entertainment, food, sport and politics. Her firm managed publicity for documentary films, book authors and the U.S. Championships. NJ received the Lynn Weaver Award from the Entertainment Professional Publicists Society for her lifelong commitment to philanthropy and community volunteerism.